Pump apparatus, hose cover, and associated system and method

ABSTRACT

A pumping apparatus includes a pump configured for moving air, a housing supporting and at least partially containing the pump, and an air output that includes a hose having a first end connected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose, and a second end configured for allowing air to exit the hose, wherein the hose has a length defined between the first and second ends. A switch is mounted on the hose and located along the length of the hose, and the switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump. The switch is located a distance from the second end of the hose that is less than 50% of the length of the hose.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/218,396, filed Jul. 25, 2016, which prior application claims priorityto and is a non-provisional filing of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/206,652, filed Aug. 18, 2015, both of which prior applications areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a pump apparatus configuredfor pumping air or another fluid, which may include various featuresproviding mobility, safety, and/or improved functionality, as well asexamples of a system and method for patient care in which the pumpapparatus is usable.

BACKGROUND

Nurses and other caregivers at hospitals, assisted living facilities,and other locations often care for patients that have limited or nomobility, many of whom are critically ill or injured. In these patients,healthcare workers must devote a significant amount of time, attention,and effort to moving patients, either within the bed to prevent thedevelopment of pressure ulcers or from the bed to another supportsurface, such as a gurney, stretcher, or wheelchair. There are severalmethods employed to effect such movement, including the use of slideboards, draw sheets, and/or overhead mechanical patient lifts. Recently,one field of technological innovation has focused on the use of airsupplies and patient transport mattresses to accomplish these tasks.Examples of such devices and products are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,735,164 and 8,276,222 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/829,361,all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.These devices provide generally effective means for moving a patient ina manner that is safe for both the patient and the healthcare provider.

One limitation of the technology in the air-assisted patient movementfield is the current state of the air supplies, or pumps, used toinflate the transfer mattresses. These pumps generally take up a greatdeal of floor space, presenting a tripping hazard to the healthcareworkers and interfering with the task at hand. Moreover, the air supplyconnects to the transfer mattress via a hose or tube. This hose may befrom two feet up to 25 feet long, depending on its location or functionin the healthcare facility (e.g., 25-foot long hoses are often necessaryin MRI suites, where the metal pump cannot be placed inside the suite).Nevertheless, the power switch for the air supply is located on the bodyof the pump itself, not at a location convenient to the caregiver whilehe or she is bedside with the patient. Such configurations require thecaregiver to physically move away from the bedside, diverting not onlyhis or her body and hands but also his or her attention from thepatient. Such diversion increases the risk of injury to the patient, asthe caregiver cannot react to sudden shifts, slips, or falls of thepatient's body.

Furthermore, existing technology in the field of air supplies does notadequately account for the concerns or priorities of a healthcareenvironment. The pumps are not designed to maintain the operator'sattention on the patient. Moreover, the pumps are not designed toprevent bacterial or viral contamination of the patient, the transfermattress, or the room.

The present disclosure seeks to overcome certain of these limitationsand other drawbacks of existing devices, systems, and methods, and toprovide new features not heretofore available.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary isnot an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended toidentify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate thescope of the invention. The following summary merely presents someconcepts of the invention and the disclosure in a general form as aprelude to the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a pumping apparatus that includes apump configured for moving air, a housing supporting and at leastpartially containing the pump, and an air output that includes a hosehaving a first end connected to the housing and in communication withthe pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose,and a second end configured for allowing air to exit the hose, whereinthe hose has a length defined between the first and second ends. Aswitch is mounted on the hose and located along the length of the hose,and the switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump. Theswitch is located a distance from the second end of the hose that isless than 50% of the length of the hose, and may be less than 25% of thelength of the hose. The switch may be located less than 12 inches fromthe second end of the hose in this configuration.

According to one aspect, the apparatus also includes a casing connectedto the hose and supporting the switch. The entire casing, or at least aportion of the casing, may be located less than 50% of the length of thehose away from the second end. The casing may have a structure thatincludes a passage with opposed ends, where the hose is connected to andin communication with the passage at both of the opposed ends. Thecasing may include a lip surrounding the switch, where a top of theswitch is recessed from a top of the lip, e.g., by at least 5 mm in oneconfiguration. The lip may have a recess on one side that is recessedwith respect to adjacent portions of the top of the lip.

According to another aspect, the apparatus includes a plurality ofwheels connected to a side of the housing and configured to permit theapparatus to rest moveably on the wheels, and a base connected to an endof the housing adjacent the side and configured to permit the apparatusto rest in a stationary manner on the base.

According to a further aspect, the apparatus includes a clip connectedto the housing, where the clip and the hose include complementarycomponents, such that the clip is configured for releasable connectionto the hose through friction between the complementary components.

According to a still further aspect, the apparatus further includes ahose cover covering the hose, where the hose cover includes an elongatedsleeve having an end located proximate the second end of the hose andextending from proximate the second end of the hose to the first end ofthe hose. The hose cover also includes a connector removably connectingthe end of the sleeve to the hose proximate the first end. The hosecover may further include a mount connected to the sleeve at a fixed endof the sleeve opposite the end, the mount including a tubular bodysupporting the sleeve and defining a central passage, where the hoseextends through the central passage and the mount is located proximatethe second end of the hose.

Additional aspects of the disclosure relate to a system that includes aninflatable device configured to be placed on a supporting surface of abed and further configured to support a patient above the supportingsurface of the bed, with the inflatable device having an inflation portconfigured to permit inflation of the device, and a pumping apparatusaccording to aspects described above, where the second end of the hoseis configured to be connected to the inflation port to pump air into theinflatable device and thereby inflate the inflatable device.

According to one aspect, the hose may have an end portion at the secondend and the end portion is rigid or semi-rigid, while a majority of thehose is flexible. According to another aspect, the inflation device mayhave a retaining mechanism located at the inflation port and configuredto retain the second end of the hose within the inflation port. The endportion of the hose may have an engagement structure to facilitateengagement by the retaining mechanism. For example, the engagementstructure may be or include a flange extending outwardly around aperiphery of the end portion.

Further aspects of the disclosure relate to a pumping apparatus thatincludes a pump configured for moving air, a housing supporting and atleast partially containing the pump, and an air output comprising a hoseconnected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such thatthe pump is configured to move air through the hose, with the hosehaving an outlet configured for allowing air to exit the hose. Thehousing has a first end, a second end, and a side extending between thefirst and second ends, such that the largest dimension of the housing isdefined between the first and second ends. A plurality of wheels areconnected to the side of the housing and configured to permit theapparatus to rest moveably on the wheels, and a base is connected to thefirst end of the housing and configured to permit the apparatus to restin a stationary manner on the base.

According to one aspect, the apparatus further includes a base mountconnecting the base to the first end of the housing, such that the baseis spaced from the first end of the housing. The base mount may have asmaller peripheral dimension than the base and/or a smaller peripheraldimension than the first end of the housing. The apparatus may furtherinclude a power cord connected to the pump and configured for supplyingelectric power to the pump, and at least a portion of the power cord maybe wrapped around the base mount in this configuration.

According to another aspect, the apparatus further includes a switchmounted on the hose and located along a length of the hose, where theswitch is configured for controlling operation of the pump. The switchis located a distance from the outlet of the hose that is less than 50%of the length of the hose, and may be less than 25% of the length of thehose. The switch may be located less than 12 inches from the outlet ofthe hose in this configuration.

According to a further aspect, the apparatus further includes a hosecover covering the hose, where the hose cover includes an elongatedsleeve having an end located proximate the outlet of the hose andextending from proximate the outlet of the hose toward the pump. Thehose cover also includes a connector removably connecting the end of thesleeve to the hose proximate the outlet. The hose cover may furtherinclude a mount connected to the sleeve at a fixed end of the sleeveopposite the end, the mount including a tubular body supporting thesleeve and defining a central passage, where the hose extends throughthe central passage and the mount is located proximate the pump. Themount may have a plurality of flanges or tabs that allow for attachmentof the mount to the pump housing by twisting or snapping into place withcomplementary flanges or tabs on the pump housing.

Still further aspects of the disclosure relate to a system including abed resting on a ground surface and having a supporting surface, aninflatable device resting on the supporting surface of the bed andconfigured for supporting a patient above the supporting surface of thebed, the inflatable device having an inflation port configured to permitinflation of the device, and a pumping apparatus according to aspectsdescribed above. A space is defined between the ground surface and anunderside of the bed, and when the apparatus is resting on the wheels onthe ground surface, the apparatus has a maximum height defined normal tothe ground surface that permits the pump apparatus to rest in the spacebeneath the underside of the bed.

According to one aspect, the pumping apparatus further includes a basemount connecting the base to the first end of the housing, such that thebase is spaced from the first end of the housing. The base mount mayhave a smaller peripheral dimension than the base and/or the first endof the housing. The pumping apparatus may also include a power cordconnected to the pump and configured for supplying electric power to thepump, where at least a portion of the power cord is wrapped around thebase mount.

According to another aspect, the pumping apparatus further includes aswitch mounted on the hose and located along a length of the hose, wherethe switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump. Theswitch is located a distance from the outlet of the hose that is lessthan 50% of the length of the hose, and may be less than 25% of thelength of the hose. The switch may be located less than 12 inches fromthe outlet of the hose in this configuration.

Yet additional aspects of the disclosure relate to a hose cover thatincludes a mount having a tubular body defining a central passage, asleeve supported by the mount such that the tubular body is receivedwithin the sleeve, such that the sleeve has a first end configured to bepulled from the tubular body along with at least a portion of a lengthof the sleeve in order to cover a hose. The tubular body may have acircular shape in one configuration or a non-circular shape in otherconfigurations.

According to one aspect, the hose cover includes a connector connectedto the sleeve proximate the first end and supported by the tubular body,such that the connector is configured to removably connect the first endof the sleeve to the hose when the first end of the sleeve is pulledfrom the tubular body. The mount may further include a retainingstructure configured to engage the connector and retain the connector inposition on the tubular body. The connector may be an elastic ring inone configuration. In this configuration, the retaining structure may bean annular recess extending at least partially around the tubular body,where the elastic ring is received in the annular recess.

According to another aspect, the mount further includes a flangeextending outward from the tubular body, and the sleeve is configured tobe pulled from the tubular body at an end of the tubular body distalfrom the flange.

Other aspects of the disclosure relate to methods of using theapparatuses and/or systems described above, including use of the pumpingapparatus to inflate an inflatable device as described herein. Theinflatable device may first be placed on the supporting surface of thebed, with the patient placed on top of the inflatable device. Afterinflation, the inflatable device can be moved in order to move thepatient and subsequently deflated as desired. The methods mayadditionally or alternately include installation of the hose cover asdescribed herein. The hose cover may be installed by inserting a hose(e.g., the hose of a pumping apparatus) into the central passage of themount, pulling the first end of the sleeve from the tubular body andconnecting the first end of the sleeve to the hose, and moving the mountalong a length of the hose away from the first end and toward thepumping apparatus to pull additional portions of the sleeve from thehose, such that the sleeve covers the hose. The mount may be releasablyconnected to the pumping apparatus, and the mount and/or the pumpingapparatus may have structure for such a releasable connection. The hosecover can be removed by moving the mount away from the pumping apparatusto remove the mount from the hose and thereby remove the sleeve from thehose, where the movement of the mount away from the pumping apparatuspulls the sleeve inside-out during removal.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a system for use inturning and positioning a patient, according to aspects of thedisclosure, with a patient shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a partially-exploded perspective view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an inflatable patient support device usablewith the system of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pump according to aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pump of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a pump according to aspectsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inflatable device of FIGS. 1-3 withan air output connected to a port on the inflatable device;

FIG. 8 is a magnified view of the port of the inflatable device shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the port of the inflatable device shown inFIGS. 7-8, with the air output in position for insertion into the port;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the pump of FIG. 4, including a power switchin the form of a rocker switch, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the pump of FIG. 4, including a power switchin the form of a push-button switch, according to aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a magnified perspective view of a portion of a filteraccording to aspects of the present disclosure, shown inside-out,configured for use with the pump of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the pump of FIG. 4 including the filterof FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the pump as illustrated in FIG. 13,showing installation of the filter of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a side view of another embodiment of a pump according toaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the pump of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the pump of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of a clip and an end of an airoutput hose of another embodiment of a pump according to aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a focused perspective view of a switch of the pump of FIGS.13-18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hose cover forcovering an air output hose according to aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a mount of the hose cover of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the pump of FIG. 10 having the hosecover of FIG. 20 being installed to cover the air output hose of thepump;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the pump and hose cover of FIG. 22after the hose cover is completely installed;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the pump and hose cover of FIG. 22having the hose cover being removed from the air output hose;

FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of a HEPA filter configured for usewith an air output pump according to aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the HEPA filter of FIG. 25 with a dustcover connected to the HEPA filter;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mount for ahose cover for covering an air output hose according to aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 28 is a front view of the mount of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a side view of the mount of FIG. 27; and

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hose inlet coverconfigured for use with a pump according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms,there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail,certain embodiments of the invention with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of theinvention to the embodiments illustrated and described.

In general, the disclosure relates to a pump apparatus that isconfigured for pumping air or another fluid. The pump may be used inconnection with an inflatable patient support device, but may also beused in other applications as well. Examples of inflatable patientsupport devices and systems incorporating such devices are illustratedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/829,361, filed Aug. 18, 2015,which application is incorporated herein in its entirety and made parthereof. Various embodiments of the invention are described below.

Referring now to the figures, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, there is shownan example embodiment of a system 10 for use in turning and positioninga person resting on a surface, such as a patient lying on a hospitalbed. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes an inflatable patientsupport device (hereinafter, “device”) 20, an absorbent body pad 40configured to be placed over the device 20, and one or more wedges 50configured to be placed under the device 20. The patient can bepositioned on top of the body pad 40, with the body pad 40 lying on thedevice 20, and one or more wedges 50A,B optionally positioned underneaththe device 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the system 10 is configured to be placed on a bed12 or other support apparatus for supporting a person in a supineposition. The bed 12 generally includes a frame 14 and a supportingsurface 16 supported by the frame 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and has ahead 13, a foot 17 opposite the head 13, and opposed sides or edges 19extending between the head 13 and the foot 17. The supporting surface 16can be provided by a mattress 18 or similar structure, and in variousembodiments, the mattress 18 can incorporate air pressure support,alternating air pressure support and/or low-air-loss (LAL) technology.These technologies are known in the art, and utilize a pump motor ormotors (not shown) to effectuate airflow into, over and/or through themattress 18. For beds having LAL technology, the top of the mattress 18may be breathable so that the airflow can pull heat and moisture vaporaway from the patient. The bed 12 may also include one or more bedsheets (such as a fitted sheet or flat sheet), as well as pillows,blankets, additional sheets, and other components known in the art.Further, the bed 12 may be an adjustable bed, such as a typicalhospital-type bed, where the head 13 (or other parts) of the bed 12 canbe raised and lowered, such as to incline the patient's upper body. Itis understood that the system 10 and the components thereof can be usedwith other types of beds 12 as well.

An example embodiment of the inflatable patient support device 20 isshown in greater detail in FIGS. 1-3. In general, the device 20 isflexible and foldable when in the non-inflated state, and has a topsurface 21 and a bottom surface 22 defined by a plurality of peripheraledges 23. The device 20 is configured to be positioned on the bed 12 sothat the bottom surface 22 is above the supporting surface 16 of the bed12 and faces or confronts the supporting surface 16, and is supported bythe supporting surface 16. As used herein, “above,” “below,” “over,” and“under” do not imply direct contact or engagement. For example, thebottom surface 22 being above the supporting surface 16 means that thatthe bottom surface 22 may be in contact with the supporting surface 16,or may face or confront the supporting surface 16 and/or be supported bythe supporting surface 16 with one or more structures located betweenthe bottom surface 22 and the supporting surface 16, such as a bed sheetas described above. Likewise, “facing” or “confronting” does not implydirect contact or engagement, and may include one or more structureslocated between the surface and the structure it is confronting orfacing.

The device 20 generally includes an inflatable body 30 that includes aninternal cavity 31 configured to be inflated with air or another gaseoussubstance. The inflatable body 30 is defined by at least a top sheet 26forming a top wall of the cavity 31 and a bottom sheet 27 forming abottom wall of the cavity 31, with the top sheet 26 and the bottom sheet27 connected together to define the cavity 31 between them. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the top and bottom sheets 26, 27 are twoseparate pieces of sheet material that are connected together aroundtheir peripheries, such as by stitching and/or adhesives, or one or moreother connection techniques described herein. In other embodiments, thetop and bottom sheets 26, 27 may be made from a single piece of materialthat is folded over and connected by stitching along the free ends orthat is formed in a loop, or the top and/or bottom sheets 26, 27 may beformed of multiple pieces. Both the top and bottom sheets 26, 27 may beformed of the same material in one embodiment, although these componentsmay be formed of different materials in another embodiment. It isunderstood that either or both of the sheets 26, 27 may have a singlelayer or multiple layers that may be formed of the same or differentmaterials. Additionally, the sheet material(s) of the top and bottomsheets 26, 27 may have properties that are desirable for a particularapplication. For example, the sheets 26, 27 may be breathable fabrics orother materials that have sufficient resistance to air passage to retaininflation of the inflatable body 30, while maintaining sufficientbreathability to allow passage of heat and moisture vapor away from thepatient, thereby enabling the device 20 to be left beneath a patientindefinitely. Such a device 20 may be used in a complementary mannerwith low air-loss beds, as mentioned above. The inflatable body 30 ofthe device 20 may include one or more inflation-limiting members tocreate a specific inflated shape 20 for the device. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the inflatable body 30 has a plurality ofgussets (not shown) connected to the top sheet 26 and the bottom sheet27 and extending across the cavity 31. The fully inflated device 20 hasa shape that is defined by the configuration of the edges 23 of thedevice 20 and the size, shape, and configurations of the gussets, amongother factors.

The device 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 includes a plurality ofpassages 37 in the bottom sheet 27 that permit air to pass from thecavity 31 to the exterior of the device 20. The passages 37 extend fromthe cavity 31 through the bottom sheet 27 to the exterior of the device20 on the bottom surface 22. Air passing through the passages 37 isforced between the bottom surface 22 of the device 20 and the surfaceupon which the device 20 sits (e.g., the supporting surface 16 of thebed 12), reducing friction between the bottom surface 22 and thesupporting surface. This permits easier movement of the device 20 when apatient 70 is positioned on the device 20. Some or all of the passages37 may be covered by an air-permeable material, such as portions of thegussets or other materials, which may have a greater permeability thanthe materials forming the top and bottom sheets 26, 27. Examples of suchcovers 38 are shown in FIG. 3. As used herein, an “air-permeablematerial” is a material that permits air to pass through, without thenecessity for manually forming holes, passages, perforations, slits,openings, etc., in the material, such as by mechanical and/or lasercutting methods.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the top surface 21 of thedevice 20 has at least a portion formed of a high-friction or grippingmaterial 24, and the bottom surface 22 has at least a portion formed ofa low-friction material 25. The components of the system 10 may alsoinclude materials with directional friction properties. In oneembodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the device 20 may also includeone or more handles 28, 48 to facilitate pulling and other movement ofthe device 20.

The system 10 may include one or more wedges 50A-B that can bepositioned under the device 20 to provide a ramp and support to slideand position the patient slightly on his/her side, as described below.The wedge 50A-B has a body 56 that can be triangular in shape, having abase wall or base surface 51, a ramp surface 52 that is positioned at anoblique angle to the base wall 51, a back wall 53, and side walls 54. Inother embodiments, the apparatus 10 may include a different type ofsupporting device other than the wedges 50A-B illustrated in FIG. 2,such as a different type or configuration of wedge or a different typeof supporting device.

The device 20 may be inflated by connection to an air output 81 asillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8. The device 20 may include one or moreinflation ports 80 for connection to the air output 81. It is understoodthat a device 20 with multiple ports 80 may include ports 80 on one ormore different edges 23 of the device 20, and that the port(s) 80 may bealong any edge 23 of the device 20. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 and6-8, the device 20 includes two inflation ports 80, each located alongone of the side edges 23 of the device 20, proximate the foot edge 23.Generally, only one of the inflation ports 80 is used at a time, and thedual ports 80 provide for use in diverse arrangements, although bothports 80 could be used simultaneously. In one embodiment, each of theports 80 includes an opening 82 configured to receive a portion of theair output 81 and a retaining mechanism 83 configured to retain theportion of the air output 81 within the opening 82. The retainingmechanism 83 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8 is a strap thatwraps around the opening 82 and fastens to itself by a hook-and-loopfastener, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. Other fasteners could be used,such as snaps, buttons, ties, etc. The air output 81 illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 and 7-9 is a hose that may be connected to a pump 90 (seeFIGS. 4-6) that pumps air through the air output 81. As shown in FIGS.1-3 and 7-9, an end portion 58 of the air output hose 81 is receivedwithin the opening 82, and the retaining mechanism 83 (strap) isfastened to secure the air output 81 in place. The end portion 58 of theair output hose 81 may have a rigid structure, in contrast to theflexible structure of the majority of the hose 81, and the end portion58 may further have an engagement structure to facilitate engagement bythe retaining mechanism 83, such as a flange 58A extending outwardlyaround at least a portion of the periphery of the end portion 58 in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-11 and 13.

The device 20 may also have a valve 84 in communication with the port80, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The valve 84 in this embodiment is formedby a pocket 85 that is positioned within the cavity 31 and has anentrance opening 86 in communication with the opening 82 of the port 80and at least one exit opening 87 in communication with the cavity 31.The pocket 85 may be formed by one or more sheets 88 of flexiblematerial that are folded and/or connected together to define the pocket85 in the desired shape. Additionally, the pocket 85 may be connected tothe inner surfaces of the cavity 31 by stitching or another techniquedescribed herein. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the pocket 85 is stitchedto the inside of the device 20 only around the port 80, and the rest ofthe pocket 85 is free within the cavity 31. The exit opening(s) 87 maybe spaced from the entrance opening 86 so that air must flow through thepocket 85 to reach the cavity 31. In this configuration, airflow throughthe port 80 passes through the valve 84 by flowing from the port 80through the entrance opening 86, then through the pocket 85 and outthrough the exit opening 87 into the cavity 31. The pocket 85 in theembodiment of FIG. 7 has two branches 89 extending away from each other,e.g., to form an L-shape, and the exit openings 87 are located near theends of the branches 89 to space them from the entrance opening and fromeach other 86. The valve 84 may perform multiple functions. For example,the pocket 85 may compress when there is no inward airflow through theentrance opening 86, thus resisting or preventing reverse airflowthrough the valve 84 and the port 80 when the port 80 is not being usedfor inflation (i.e., when another port 80 is being used). As anotherexample, the valve 84 reduces noise and dispersion of the air duringinflation. As a further example, the pocket 85 may also protect the airoutput 81 from contact with dirt, dust, debris, and other matter thatmay be present within the cavity 31. As yet another example, thepositioning of the exit openings 87 in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7 makes it difficult or impossible for the patient's leg to rest ontop of both of the exit openings 87 of a single valve 84, which couldimpede air flow through the valve 84. In other embodiments, the valve 84may be differently configured, such as by having a different shape, agreater or smaller number of exit openings 87, etc. It is understoodthat the valve 84 and other inflation components of the system 10 aredescribed for use with air, but may be used with any suitable gas.Accordingly, terms such as “air” and “airflow” as used herein may referto any suitable gas.

As described above, a pump 90 may be used in connection with theinflatable device 20 to supply air to the air output 81 and therebyinflate the device 20. When used for this purpose, the pump 90 may beconsidered to be a component of the system 10 that includes the device20. It is understood that the pump 90 may be used in connection withdifferent inflatable patient support devices, or for other purposes aswell. One embodiment of a pump 90 according to aspects of the disclosureis shown in FIG. 6. The pump 90 in this embodiment has a hose (notshown) that functions as the air output 81, as described above.Likewise, the pump 90 in this embodiment has a pumping mechanism (notshown) configured for pumping or otherwise moving air through the airoutput 81. Additionally, the pump 90 has an attachment mechanism 91 thatis configured to releasably attach the pump 90 to a structure 92, suchas a railing of the bed 12. The use of the attachment mechanism 91 mayprevent the pump 90 from moving around during use and potentiallydislodging the air output 81 from the port 80 and may keep the pump 90out of the way of caregivers who may try to maneuver around the bed 12to deliver care to the patient 70. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, theattachment mechanism 91 is a T-shaped bar that is connected to the pumpby a hinge 93 and has two arms 94 with hooks 95 at the ends thereof.These hooks 95 allow either arm to be connected to a structure 92 tohang the pump 90 from the structure 92, as shown in FIG. 6. In otherembodiments, the pump 90 may include a differently configured attachmentmechanism 91.

Another embodiment of the pump 90 is shown in FIGS. 4-5 and 10-11 andincludes a housing 74 with an air output hose 81 connected to the pump90 at a connection point 75 at one end of the housing 74. In thisembodiment, the pump 90 is configured for sitting on the floor or othersurface in multiple different configurations. The housing 74 in thisembodiment is generally cylindrical and elongated along the axialdimension. The pump 90 in FIGS. 4-5 includes wheels 96 for mobility, andthe wheels 96 are placed along the longest (i.e., axial) dimension ofthe pump 90, such that the pump 90 is configured to sit in a low-profileconfiguration when sitting on the wheels 96. This low-profileconfiguration may permit the pump 90 to sit under the bed 12 and out ofthe way when not in use. The pump 90 in FIGS. 4-5 has three wheels 96positioned in a triangular pattern, with two wheels 96 positioned nearthe end of the pump 90 opposite the connection of the air output hose 81and a third wheel 96 positioned more proximate to the air output hose81. In one embodiment, the two rear wheels 96 may have fixed mountswhile the front wheel 96 has a rotating mount to provide rolling in anydesired direction. In other embodiments, all wheels 96 may have rotatingmounts or the pump 90 may have a different type and/or number of wheels96. In an additional embodiment, one or more wheels 96 of the pump 90may be in the form of a caster or other structure configured foruniversal rotation. FIGS. 15-16 illustrate one embodiment where thefront wheel 96A is in the form of a caster, with the rear wheels 96Bconfigured similarly to the wheels 96 of the embodiment in FIGS. 4-5.Further, some or all of the wheels 96 may have manually actuated rollinglocks to selectively prevent the wheels 96 from rolling and therebyresist unintentional movement of the pump 90.

The pump 90 also includes a standing base 97 configured to support thepump 90 in a standing configuration so that the wheels 96 do not contactthe ground and the pump 90 does not move freely. In one embodiment, thebase 97 may have a bottom surface that is shaped to generally define aplane, providing a stable resting surface. The base 97 in the embodimentof FIGS. 4-5 has a generally flat circular shape. The base 97 may alsobe configured to provide a structure around which the power cord 98 maybe wrapped, as shown in FIGS. 4-5 and 10-11. The base 97 is located atthe rear end of the housing 74 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-5 and10-11. Additionally, the base 97 in this embodiment is a relatively flatplate-shaped member that is connected to the rear end of the housing 74by a base mount 76 that spaces the base 97 from the rear end of thehousing 74. The base mount 76 as illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 and 10-11 hasa smaller peripheral dimension (e.g., a smaller width and/or diameter)than the base 97 and the rear end of the housing 74 in a plane normal tothe axial direction of the housing 74. This configuration allows thebase mount 76 to provide a structure for wrapping the power cord 98,such that the wrapped power cord 98 is supported between the base 97 andthe rear end of the housing 74, resisting uncoiling of the wrapped powercord 98. In other embodiments, the base 97 and/or the base mount 76 mayhave a different configuration. For example, the base 97 may not beconfigured as a flat plate, but rather, may include a more discontinuousstructure, such as a plurality of legs. In the embodiment of FIGS.15-16, the pump 90 has a base 97 formed by a plurality of legs 97A, andthe ends of the legs 97A may be considered to define a plane for restingon a surface. The legs 97A also define the base mount 76, and the legs97A curve radially outwardly so that the base mount 76 is configured topermit the cord 98 to be securely wrapped as described above. The pump90 in FIGS. 15-16 has three legs 97A, but a different number of legs maybe used in other embodiments.

The pump 90 may further include a structure for holding for holdingand/or retaining the air output hose 81 when not in use. For example, inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pump 90 includes a strap 99connected to the housing 74 for this purpose, and this strap 99 may alsobe configured to function as an attachment mechanism 91 for attachmentto a structure 92, such as the bed 12. In another embodiment, the pump90 may additionally or alternately include a clip 72 or other form ofattachment that can be used to hold the air output hose 81 in place.FIG. 13 illustrates a clip 72 mounted on the housing 74 that isconfigured to be releasably connected to the end portion 58 of the airoutput hose 81 to hold the air output hose 81 in place when not in use.This clip 72 or attachment may be magnetic, so as to hold the air outputhose 81 in place by attraction to a metal wire or other metallicmaterial used in the air output hose 81. FIG. 18 illustrates a potentialconfiguration where the clip 72 and the end portion 58 of the air outputhose 81 include complementary magnetic components 72A that can retainthe end portion 58 of the air output hose 81 to the clip 72 usingmagnetic attraction. In other embodiments, the clip 72 may additionallyor alternately include a different type of retaining structure, such asa friction-based retaining structure that holds the air output hose 81in place by frictional engagement, or another mechanical retainingstructure that may hold the air output hose 81 in place by othermechanical engagement (e.g., resilient members, releasable lock, etc.).For example, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17 has a clip 72 thathas a slot 57 receiving a portion of the flange 58A of the end portion58 of the air output hose 81 to hold the hose 81 in place by frictionalengagement.

One embodiment of the pump 90 may also have a rest 77 for the air outputhose 81, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 17. The rest 77 has asaddle-like configuration in the illustrated embodiment. The rest 77 isconnected to the housing 74 at a position between the clip 72 and theconnection of the air output hose 81 to the pump 90, so that part of theloose middle section of the air output hose 81 is supported by the rest77. The rest 77 may have no retaining structure in one embodiment, orthe rest 77 may have a retaining structure as described above in anotherembodiment (e.g., an interlocking structure and/or magnetic retentionstructure). In further embodiments, the pump 90 may include retainingstructures configured to engage and retain portions of the air outputhose 81 that may be configured and/or positioned differently.

It is understood that in other embodiments, the pump 90 may include acombination of features of any of the embodiments in FIGS. 4-6 and 10-16as described herein. For example, in other embodiments, the pump 90 ofFIGS. 4-5 may include an attachment mechanism 91, such as a carabinerclip (e.g., as in FIG. 15) or an attachment mechanism 91 configured asin the embodiment of FIG. 6, or the pump 90 of FIG. 6 may include wheels96 or a standing base 97 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 4-5. As anotherexample, the pump 90 may include one or more switches 71 for poweringthe pump 90 on/off and potentially other controls as well. Such a switchor switches may include one or more hard-wired switches and/orwireless/remote switches (e.g., an RF switch).

The pump 90 (and the pumping mechanism thereof) may be activated,deactivated, and/or otherwise controlled by a control interface that mayinclude a power switch or other switch 71 mounted and/or located on theair output hose 81 in one embodiment, as stated above. As shown in theexamples in FIGS. 10-11, the switch 71 (e.g., a power switch) may belocated on the air output hose 81 at or near the distal or output end 73of the air output 81 in one embodiment, e.g., the point at which the airoutput 81 may be attached to port 80. For example, if the air output 81is configured as a hose or other elongated conduit, the switch 71 may belocated less than 50% of the length of the output hose 81 from thedistal end 73 (i.e., more proximate to the distal end 73 than to theopposite end of the hose 81 that is connected to the housing 74), orless than 25% of the length of the output hose 81 from the distal end73, in various embodiments. As another example, the power switch 71 maybe located within 12 inches of the distal end 73, in one embodiment. Theposition or location of the switch 71 for purposes of these measurementsmay be considered to be the geometric center of the actuator of theswitch 71 (i.e., the component that is configured for manual interactionand/or manipulation). The length of the air output hose 81 for thispurpose may be considered to be the exposed length of the air outputhose 81 in use, i.e., measured from the distal end 73 to the connectionpoint 75 where the air output hose 81 meets the housing 74 in theembodiment of FIGS. 10-11.

The switch 71 may be one of several types of switches generally known tothose skilled in the art, having various types of actuator structuresincluding a toggle switch, a rocker switch (as shown in FIG. 10), apush-button switch (as shown in FIG. 11), a rotary switch, a slideswitch, or other types of switches. The switch 71 may include a frame orcasing 78 connected to the output hose 81 that supports the switch 71,as shown in FIGS. 10-11. The casing 78 in each of these embodiments hasan open central passage 79 such that air flowing through the output hose81 passes through the casing 78. In one embodiment, the output hose 81may be connected to the casing 78 at opposite ends of the casing 78, andin another embodiment, the output hose 81 may pass through the passage79 of the casing 78. The casing 78 may be positioned relative to thedistal end 73 of the output hose 81 according to the relativepositioning described above (e.g., less than 50% or less than 25% of thelength of the output hose 81 from the distal end 73 or within 12 inchesof the distal end 73). In one embodiment, at least some portion of thecasing 78 may be located within the relative distances from the distalend 73 described herein. In another embodiment, the midpoint of thelength of the casing 78 may be located within such relative distances ofthe distal end 73. In a further embodiment, the entire casing 78 may belocated according to such relative positioning within such relativedistances of the distal end 73.

The casing 78 may further include features to avoid unintentionalactivation of the switch 71 and/or assist with desired activation of theswitch 71. FIG. 19 shows the casing 78 and the switch 71 of the pump 90of FIGS. 15-17 in greater detail. In this embodiment, the casing 78 hasa raised lip 55 surrounding the switch 71, such that the switch 71 isrecessed from the top of the lip 55. This recession of the switch 71 canprotect the switch 71 against unintentional activation, such as mayoccur by the switch 71 being bumped against the caregiver, the patient,the bed 12, etc. The switch 71 may be recessed at least 5 mm or recessed6-7 mm from the top of the lip 55 in one embodiment. The lip 55 as shownin FIG. 19 also has a recess 55A on one side that is recessed withrespect to the adjacent portions of the lip 55 and/or with respect tothe entire remainder of the lip 55. The height of the switch 71 iscloser to the height of the recess 55A relative to other portions of thelip 55, and in one embodiment, the switch 71 may be recessed 2 mm orless or recessed between 1-2 mm from the lowermost portion of the recess55A. It is understood that a push-button switch 71 as shown in FIG. 19may be depressed during use, such that vertical position of the switch71 changes during operation, e.g., the switch may “pop up” when activeor inactive. For a switch 71 as shown in FIG. 19 or other switch thatmoves or changes in vertical position, the degrees of recess identifiedabove are specified with respect to the uppermost position of the switch71, i.e., closest to the lip 55. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, thelip 55 generally has a frusto-conical shape, and the recess 55A has acurved trough shape, although other configurations may be provided inother embodiments to accomplish similar functions.

The pump 90 may be provided with a removable hose cover 44 in oneembodiment, where the hose cover 44 includes a mount 46 that holds thesleeve 45 and facilitates installation of the sleeve 45. FIGS. 20-24illustrate one embodiment of a hose cover 44, and FIGS. 27-29 illustratean additional embodiment of a mount 46 for a hose cover 44. It isunderstood that the mount 46 of FIGS. 27-29 may include features andcomponents that are structurally and/or functionally similar to featuresand components described herein with respect to FIGS. 20-24, and thatsuch similar features and components may not be separately describedwith respect to FIGS. 27-29 for the sake of brevity. It is alsounderstood that any features or components of the embodiment of FIGS.20-24 may be used in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 27-29, andvice-versa. The hose cover 44 in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24 includesat least a sleeve 45 that can be used to surround and cover the airoutput hose 81. The hose cover 44 in FIGS. 20-24 also includes a mount46 that holds the sleeve 45 and facilitates installation of the sleeve45 and a connector 47 to connect the sleeve 45 to the air output hose81. The sleeve 45 may be any flexible material with suitable resistanceto ingress of contaminants, such as a blown plastic film sleeve in oneembodiment. The connector 47 in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24 is anelastic ring, which may be made of rubber or other elastic material ormay otherwise possess elastic properties, such as having a springstructure. The connector 47 may be connected to the sleeve 45 in avariety of different manners, such as being rolled within the end of thesleeve 45. The elastic structure of the connector 47 in this embodimentpermits the connector 47 to constrict around the air output hose 81 orother structure to removably connect the sleeve 45 to such structure.The connector 47 may have a different structure for releasableconnection in another embodiment.

The mount 46 is generally a rigid structure that supports the sleeve 45before installation and optionally remains connected to the sleeve 45during and after use as well. The mount 46 is made of a relatively rigidplastic in one embodiment (which may be an FRP or composite), but may bemade from other rigid or semi-rigid materials in other embodiments,including various metallic or ceramic materials. The mount 46 is formedin an annular or ring shape in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24, with atubular body 46A defining a central passage 46B. The tubular body 46Asupports the sleeve 45 when the sleeve 45 is not installed and mayfurther support portions of the sleeve 45 during and after installationin one embodiment. The tubular body 46A in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24supports the sleeve 45 by having the sleeve wrapped around the tubularbody 46A and at least a portion of the tubular body 46A being receivedwithin the sleeve 45. The tubular body 46A in the embodiment of FIGS.20-24 has a cylindrical shape over the entire length thereof, and thetubular body 46A in the embodiment of FIGS. 27-29 has a cylindricalshape with a tapered portion to ease removal of the sleeve 45 from themount 46. The mount 46 may further include a flange 46C at or near oneend of the tubular body 46A as shown in FIGS. 20-24 to ensure that thesleeve 45 is only able to be pulled off of one end of the tubular body46A, i.e., the end distal from the flange 46C. The tubular body 46A ofthe mount 46 in FIGS. 20-24 further includes a retainer or retainingstructure 46D that is configured to engage the connector 47 and retainthe connector 47 in position on the tubular body 46A. The retainingstructure 46D in the embodiment of FIGS. 20-24 is an annular recess orchannel that extends at least a portion of the way around the tubularbody 46A. In other embodiments, the retaining structure 46D may have adifferent configuration, such as a raised structure or structures, e.g.,a ridge, lip, protrusion, etc. The sleeve 45 may be connected to themount 46 at the end of the sleeve 45 opposite the connector 47, such asby adhesive, mechanical connection, etc. In one embodiment, the end ofthe sleeve 45 opposite the connector 47 may have a second connector (notshown), such as a second elastic ring, to connect the sleeve 45 to thetubular body 46A. The sleeve 45 may be connected proximate the flange46C of the mount 46, and a second retaining structure 46E on the mount46 may receive the second connector to strengthen this connection. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 20-24, the second retaining structure 46E is inthe form of slots on the tubular body 46A, but may take another form inother embodiments, such as a recess or channel as shown in FIGS. 27-29.

One embodiment of a method for applying the hose cover 44 to cover theair output hose 81 is shown in FIGS. 22-24. This method is shown inconnection with the pump 90 as shown in FIG. 10, although it isunderstood that the hose cover 44 may be used with any other embodimentof the pump 90 shown or described herein, or with respect to a hose on adifferent type of apparatus for moving air or other fluid or fluidizedsubstance (e.g., a vacuum cleaner). The hose cover 44 may initially beprovided with the sleeve 45 mounted on and supported by the mount 46 asshown in FIG. 20, such that the sleeve 45 is wrapped around the tubularbody 46A, which may require rolling and/or bunching of the sleeve 45.The connector 47 engages the retaining structure 46D in thisconfiguration by constricting around the tubular body 46A and beingreceived within the recess of the retaining structure 46D. To apply thehose cover 44 to the air output hose 81, the end portion 58 of the airoutput hose 81 is inserted through the central passage 46B of the mount46, and the connector 47 can be pushed or rolled off the end of thetubular body 46A to connect to the air output hose 81, as shown in FIG.22. The connector 47 is constricted around the end portion 58 of the airoutput hose 81 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 22, and in oneembodiment, the end portion 58 of the air output hose 81 may be providedwith retaining structure for engaging the connector 47, similar to theretaining structure 46D of the mount 46. The mount 46 is then movedalong the length of the air output hose 81 toward the pump 90, whichpulls the sleeve 45 off the end of the tubular body 46A to continuouslycover the air output hose 81, as also shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG.22, the tubular body 46A supports any extra portions of the sleeve 45that are not necessary to be deployed to reach the length of the airoutput hose 81, and the central passage 46B of the tubular body 46Aforms a continuous passage with the sleeve 45 in which the air outputhose 81 is received. Once the entire air output hose 81 has beencovered, the mount 46 can be left in position at or around theconnection point 75 of the air output hose 81, as shown in FIG. 23.

The mount 46 and/or the pump 90 may include releasable connecting orretaining structure for retaining the mount 46 in place at theconnection point 75, and the mount 46 and the pump 90 may havecomplementary structures for this purpose. For example, in oneembodiment, the mount 46 may have a plurality of flanges or tabs 46F asshown in FIG. 22 that allow for attachment of the mount 46 to the pump90 by twisting or snapping into place to engage with complementaryflanges or tabs (not shown) on the pump 90 (e.g., on the hose inletcover 49 of the housing 74). As another example, the mount 46 may have aplurality of projections 46G on the underside of the flange 46C thatengage with holes 49A on the pump 90 (e.g., on the hose inlet cover 49)in one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 27-30. FIGS. 27-29 illustrate anexample embodiment of a mount 46 with this feature, and FIG. 30illustrates an example embodiment of a hose inlet cover 49 having holes49A configured to engage with the mount 46. In this embodiment, theprojections 46G may be received in the larger portions of the holes 49A,and then the mount 46 can be twisted to lock the edges of the smallerportions of the holes 49A into slots 46H on the projections 46G. It isunderstood that the arrangement of the holes 49A and the projections 46Gmay be transposed, such that one or all of the projections 46G arelocated on the pump 90, and one or all of the holes 49A are located onthe mount 46. Further different structures can be used in furtherembodiments.

In another embodiment, the sleeve 45 may be installed on the air outputhose 81 in a manner such that the mount 46 can be removed from thesleeve 45 and discarded and the sleeve 45 can remain installed on theair output hose 81. For example, the installation may instead begin atthe connection point 75 so the sleeve 45 may be pulled toward the endportion of the air output hose 81, the air output hose 81 may be removedfrom the pump 90 during installation, or the mount 46 may have a gap orreleasable/breakable portion to permit removal of the mount 46, amongother embodiments.

The hose cover 44 as shown in FIGS. 20-24 provides a sanitary barrier toresist or prevent contaminants such as chemical and/or biologicalmaterials from coming into contact with the air output hose 81. Thestructure of the air output hose 81 in this embodiment makes cleaningdifficult, particularly between the folds of the accordion-likestructure, where contaminants such as biological waste and bodily fluidscan accumulate. The hose cover 44 resists ingress of these contaminantsto the surface of the air output hose 81 to avoid this problem.

The hose cover 44 can be removed by moving the mount 46 back along theair output hose 81 toward the end portion 58 until the entire sleeve 45is pulled off of the air output hose 81, as shown in FIG. 24. Duringthis action, the sleeve 45 is turned inside-out so that the potentiallycontaminated outer surface of the sleeve 45 becomes the inner surfaceand is not handled by the user. The sleeve 45 can then be disposed of,and a new hose cover 44 may be installed in its place. In otherembodiments, the hose cover 44 may be removed using a differenttechnique.

The hose cover 44 or various components thereof may be configureddifferently in other embodiments. For example, in various embodiments,the sleeve 45 may not include a connector 47 and/or a mount 46. Forexample, the sleeve 45 may be rolled or slid onto the air output hose 81without the mount 46. As another example, the sleeve 45 may includeinnate retaining properties to retain itself in contact with the airoutput hose 81, such as being made of an elastic material or a materialwith clinging properties, e.g., adhesive or static. It is understoodthat the method for applying the hose cover 44 shown in FIGS. 22-24 isconfigured for use with a hose cover 44 having a structure as shown inFIGS. 20-24, and that a differently configured hose cover 44 may benefitfrom or require modifications to the method of installation.

The pump 90 may include an internal filter 60 that filters the air as itpasses through the pump 90, before the air passes through the air output81. FIGS. 12-14 illustrate one embodiment of a filter 60 that may beused in connection with the pump 90 of FIGS. 4-5, and FIGS. 13-14illustrate the installation thereof. The filter 60 in this embodimentgenerally includes a filter body 61 made from a material configured forfiltering air and an elastic retaining portion 62 connected to thefilter body 61 and configured to hold the filter 60 in place within thepump 90. The filter body 61 in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14 has acylindrical or frusto-conical shape, with a closed end 61A and acylindrical or conical sidewall 61B with an open end or opening 61Cconfigured to receive a portion of the pump 90 therein. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 13-14, the filter body 61 also has an aperture63 configured to receive a connector 64 for assembly of the housing 74as described below.

The retaining portion 62 in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14 includes anelastic ring 65 positioned at or proximate the open end 61C of thefilter body 61. The elastic ring 65 is connected to the filter body 61by stitching 66 at least around the inner edge of the elastic ring 65,as shown in FIG. 12. It is understood that the filter 60 in FIG. 12 isillustrated inside-out, with the exposed surface in FIG. 12 being theinner surface in use. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the elastic ring 65 hasa lip or flange 67 that hangs free and is not connected to the filterbody 61. This configuration is created by defining a space between theedge of the stitching 66 and the edge of the elastic ring 65 oppositethe open end 61C, thereby creating the lip 67. This lip 67 may increasethe retaining ability of the retaining portion 62, such as by foldingpartially or completely inwardly in response to frictional forces whenthe filter 60 is pulled toward the closed end 61A (i.e., the directionof force necessary to remove the filter 60). This folding decreases theinner dimension (e.g., the inner diameter) of the retaining portion 62,which increases the compressive force on the elastic ring 65 andincreases the resultant frictional forces, thereby resisting removal ofthe filter 60. The lip 67 in the embodiment of FIG. 12 has a width Wmeasured between the extremity of the stitching 66 and the edge of theelastic ring 65, as shown in FIG. 12. In one embodiment, the averagewidth W of the lip 67 is at least 1 mm, and may be from 1-10 mm. The Inother embodiments, the embodiment in FIGS. 12-14 may include a differentstructure, including a different retaining portion 62 or no retainingportion 62 at all.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate one embodiment of a method and configuration ofinstalling the filter 60 on the pump 90. The pump 90 in FIGS. 13-14 hasa multi-piece housing 74 that includes a first piece 74A that supportsmost or all of the electronic and mechanical components of a pumpingmechanism 59, e.g., a compressor (not shown) and related components, anda second piece 74B that supports the wheels 96, the base 97, the clip72, the rest 77, and other such components. The connection point 75 ofthe air output hose 81 is located on the first piece 74A in thisembodiment, and it is understood that components of the pumpingmechanism 59 that are not shown in FIGS. 13-14 may be contained withinthe first piece 74A. The pieces 74A-B may be connected together by oneor more connecting structures, and in the embodiment of FIGS. 13-14, thefirst piece 74A has a connector 64 that is connected to the second piece74B, such as by a threading engagement with a screw. An example of thisconnection is shown in FIG. 16, which shows the connector 64 extendingthrough a hole in the second piece 74B and connected using a nut 68 in athreaded arrangement. The pieces 74A-B may include additional connectingstructures, and in other embodiments of multi-piece housings, differentconnecting structures may be used. The pump 90 in FIGS. 13-14 includesan intake portion 69 connected to the first piece 74A, which may beconfigured with one or more openings (not shown) to serve as an airintake for the pump 90. As shown in FIGS. 13-14, the filter 60 is placedover the intake portion 69, such that the intake portion extends throughthe opening 61C and is received within the filter body 61. The first andsecond pieces 74A-B may be separated to permit connecting and removingthe filter 60. The retaining portion 62 engages a portion of the intakeportion 69 and/or the first piece 74A to retain the filter 60 in place.When the first and second pieces 74A-B are re-assembled, the intakeportion 69 and the filter 60 are at least partially received within thesecond piece 74B, as shown in FIG. 13. It is understood that the otherembodiments described herein, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4-6, 10-11, and15-16, may use a similarly configured housing 74, filter 60, and/orpumping mechanism 59. In other embodiments, the pump 90, the filter 60,and the corresponding connections between these components may bedifferently configured.

FIGS. 25-26 illustrate another configuration of the filter 60, in theform of a high efficiency particulate arresting (“HEPA”) filter. TheHEPA filter 60 in FIGS. 25-26 includes a base 41 that supports thefilter body 61 around a central passage 42 and has structure forconnecting the filter 60 to the pump 90. It is understood that the pump90 may have corresponding or complementary structure for connection tothe base 41. The HEPA filter 60 may further be provided with a removabledust cover 43 to filter out larger particles before they reach thefilter body 61, as shown in FIG. 26. In this configuration, incoming airpasses first through the dust cover 43 and then through the filter body61 and into the central passage 42, then out of the central passage 42through the air output 81. It is understood that other embodiments mayuse a HEPA filter 60 that is configured differently from the filter 60shown in FIGS. 25-26.

All or some of the components of the system 10 can be provided in a kit,which may be in a pre-packaged arrangement, as described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2012/0186012, published Jul. 26, 2012, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made parthereof. For example, the device 20 (deflated), the pad 40, the one ormore wedges 50 and/or the pump 90 may be provided together in a singlepackage or multiple packages.

An example embodiment of a method for utilizing the system 10 isillustrated in part in FIGS. 1-3 and 7-9. Once the device 20 and the pad40 are placed beneath the patient 70, the device 20 can be inflated, byconnecting the air output 81 to one of the inflation ports 80 and thenfastening the retaining mechanism 83 to secure the connection. Air canthen be pumped into the device 20 through the air output 81. Deflationcan be accomplished by simply shutting off and/or removing the airoutput 81. The wedges 50A-B may be at least partially inserted beneaththe device 20 and the patient 70 to place the patient 70 in an angledposition. It is understood that the wedges 50A-B may be used inconnection with the device 20 when the device 20 is in the inflated ornon-inflated state. The inflation of the device 20 provides support forthe patient 70, and the air flowing through the passages 37 reducesfriction between the device 20 and the supporting surface 16, in orderto ease movement of the patient 70.

The use of the pump 90 described herein provides benefits and advantagesover existing technology when used alone and when used in connectionwith a system 10 for supporting, turning, and moving a patient, asdescribed herein. For example, the low profile of the pump 90 permits itto be stored under a bed 12 or elsewhere out of the way when in use orin storage. This increases the safety of use of the pump in a patientcare setting, such as with a system 10 as described herein, so that thepump 90 can be positioned in a location that will not interfere with thepatient 70 and/or caregivers. Other features enhance the safety and easeof use in such a setting as well, such as the attachment mechanism 91,mechanisms for holding the output hose 81 in place, multiple switches(including potentially a remote switch) for controlling the pump 90,etc. The base 97 provides a stable surface for resting the pump in animmobile configuration, as well as a convenient structure for wrappingthe power cord when not in use. The combination of the base 97 and thewheels 96 provide for use in a mobile or immobile configuration.Further, the use of the switch 71 proximate the distal end 73 of theoutput hose 81 provides the caregiver the ability to maintain attentionon the patient and to keep his/her hands on or near the patient whileactivating or deactivating the pump 90, which increases safety andquality of patient care. Still further, the degree of recession of theswitch 71 from the adjacent surfaces of the casing 78 is large enough toavoid accidental activation of the switch 71, while small enough topermit easy operation of the switch 71 when desired. The use of therecess 55A in the lip 55 surrounding the switch 71 assists with thisoperation, and this configuration enhances both functionality and safetyof the switch 71. Various additional features enhance the convenienceand functionality of the pump 90. Still other benefits and advantagesover existing technology are provided by the systems, apparatuses, andmethods described herein, and those skilled in the art will recognizesuch benefits and advantages. It is understood that the features of thepump 90 may provide benefits in other settings and applications as well,and not only when used in a patient care setting.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described andillustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possiblecombinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinaryskill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodimentscould be provided in any combination with the other embodimentsdisclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein. The terms “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., as usedherein, are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit theembodiments in any way. In particular, these terms do not imply anyorder or position of the components modified by such terms.Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any numbergreater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary,up to an infinite number. Further, “providing” an article or apparatus,as used herein, refers broadly to making the article available oraccessible for future actions to be performed on the article, and doesnot connote that the party providing the article has manufactured,produced, or supplied the article or that the party providing thearticle has ownership or control of the article. Accordingly, whilespecific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerousmodifications come to mind without significantly departing from thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hose cover comprising: a mount comprising atubular body defining a central passage, a first opening, a secondopening, and an annular recess extending at least partially around anexterior surface of the tubular body; a sleeve having a first end and asecond end, wherein in a first configuration the sleeve is supported byan exterior surface of the mount such that the first end is positionednear the first opening of the mount and the second end is positionednear the second opening of the mount, and such that at least a portionof the tubular body is received within the sleeve; and a connectorconnected to the sleeve proximate the first end and configured to bereceived in the annular recess of the mount, wherein the first end ofthe sleeve is configured to be pulled from the tubular body over thefirst opening of the mount into a second configuration wherein at leasta portion of a length of the sleeve is extended beyond the first openingof the mount in order to cover a hose, and wherein the connector isconfigured to removably connect the first end of the sleeve to the hosewhen the first end of the sleeve is pulled from the tubular body.
 2. Thehose cover of claim 1, wherein the connector is an elastic ring.
 3. Thehose cover of claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises a retainingstructure configured to engage the connector and retain the connector inposition on the tubular body.
 4. The hose cover of claim 1, wherein thetubular body has a circular shape.
 5. The hose cover of claim 1, whereinthe mount further comprises a flange extending outward from the tubularbody near the second opening, and wherein the sleeve is configured to bepulled from the tubular body near the first end of the tubular bodydistal from the flange.
 6. The hose cover of claim 5, wherein the mounthas a releasable retaining structure configured for connecting the mountto a pumping apparatus connected to the hose.
 7. A method comprising:providing a hose cover comprising: a mount comprising a tubular bodydefining a central passage, a first opening, a second opening, and anannular recess extending at least partially around an exterior surfaceof the tubular body; a sleeve having a first end and a second end,wherein in a first configuration the sleeve is supported by an exteriorsurface of the mount such that the first end is positioned near thefirst opening of the mount and the second end is positioned near thesecond opening of the mount, and such that at least a portion of thetubular body is received within the sleeve, wherein the first end of thesleeve is configured to be pulled from the tubular body over the firstopening of the mount into a second configuration wherein at least aportion of a length of the sleeve is extended beyond the first openingof the mount in order to cover a hose; and a connector connected to thesleeve proximate the first end and configured to be received in theannular recess of the mount, wherein the connector is configured toremovably connect the first end of the sleeve to the hose when the firstend of the sleeve is pulled from the tubular body; inserting a hose of apumping apparatus into the central passage of the mount; pulling thefirst end of the sleeve from the tubular body and over the first openinginto the second configuration; connecting the first end of the sleeve tothe hose; and moving the mount along a length of the hose away from thefirst end and toward the pumping apparatus to pull additional portionsof the sleeve from the hose, such that the sleeve covers the hose. 8.The method of claim 7, further comprising releasably connecting themount to the pumping apparatus.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein themount and a hose inlet cover of the pumping apparatus have complementaryreleasable retaining structures to releasably connect the mount to thepumping apparatus.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprisingremoving the hose cover by moving the mount away from the pumpingapparatus to remove the mount from the hose and thereby remove thesleeve from the hose, wherein the movement of the mount away from thepumping apparatus pulls the sleeve inside-out during removal.